The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) are mourning the tragic loss of Lieutenant Amon Ariho, who took his own life after writing a heartbreaking letter to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
Lt. Ariho, who had served in the UPDF since 2013, ended his life by shooting himself, raising serious concerns about the army’s internal management.
The incident occurred at Nakirebe football grounds in Mpigi district, where Ariho reportedly drove to the location and ordered players off the field before fatally shooting himself.
According to Maj. Charles Kabona, spokesperson for the UPDF First Division, Ariho used an SMG rifle retrieved from his vehicle.
“He pulled his SMG gun from his car and committed suicide. Our soldiers from nearby detached, and police rushed to the scene of the crime and cordoned it off; his phone and document were recovered from his car,” said Kabona.
Ariho’s body was transported to Mulago mortuary, while his firearm and vehicle were taken to Mpigi police station for further investigation.
“The investigation is ongoing to determine the root cause of this unfortunate incident. We strongly condemn such acts in the strongest terms,” Kabona added.
Incidents of security officers committing suicide are common. In 2022, at least 13 police officers and four soldiers committed suicide.
Psychologist Edward Bantu, who has done mental assessments for police officers, attributes such incidents to a lack of regular counselling services and poor working and living conditions.
What Went Wrong?
In his suicide note, Lt. Ariho thanked the CDF for his leadership but pointed to problems within the UPDF’s Engineering Brigade, specifically accusing Major George Ogwang, the head of the central region brigade, of mismanagement and selfish behaviour.
Lt. Ariho described a toxic work environment where decisions were made without consulting engineers, and financial mismanagement created further challenges.
One example mentioned was in Butambala District, where engineers had worked to produce blocks valued at UGX 100 million. However, Maj. Ogwang allegedly dismissed the effort as theft and dismissed engineers arbitrarily, undermining their work and morale. Lt. Ariho also highlighted unpaid debts that made their situation even worse.
“Harmful propaganda and selfish interests will make you hate and abandon good people and pull up wrong elements,” Lt. Ariho warned in his letter. He urged the CDF to make reforms to fix these deep issues.
In a heartbreaking part of the note, Lt. Ariho pleaded with the CDF to care for his family and ensure his children’s well-being. He also requested to be buried in his home district of Rukiga.
The UPDF spokesperson, Brigadier-General Felix Kulayigye, stated that the allegations in the suicide note are being investigated.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Spokesperson, Col. Deo Akiiki, expressed condolences to Lt. Ariho’s family and called his death a tragic loss to the UPDF.
Lt. Ariho’s note is a call for accountability, and it is now up to the leadership to address these serious allegations.
